Hadji Murat grapes: characteristics and description of the variety, planting and care

The table grape variety Hadji Murat is grown in the southern regions. It is famous for its large berries, excellent taste. The large blue-black clusters of the crop are very attractive in appearance.

In temperate climates, it requires careful care and winter shelter, so only experienced winegrowers who know all the secrets of agricultural technology cultivate this variety.

Description of the variety

A grape variety with an original name was developed in Tajikistan and is suitable for warm climates. It is characterized by its early ripening period.

Parents: the famous blue-violet Muscat Hamburgsky and the very ancient Zabalkansky variety. It was zoned in the 1980s and named "Tajikistani" in the catalog. This name didn't stick, but Hadji Murat was a perfect match for the large grape variety.

The berry harvest period is 135 days. In the south, it's early September, so in the temperate zone, the berries ripen even later. The bushes are strong, tall, and ripen quickly. The vine ripens at 80% of its growth length.

Propagated by cuttings, the root system is robust. The leaves are large, five-lobed, and a rich, dark green. This variety is prone to overgrowth, requiring shaping of the bushes and individual clusters.

Frost-hardy to -22ºC, it requires winter protection. This variety has proven successful in the Far East. With proper care and proper cultivation practices (fully ripened vines, no overloading), Hadji Murat yields 20-25 kg per mature plant.

Description of fruits

The barrel-shaped berries form in dense, large clusters. Berries weigh 18-20 grams, and clusters weigh 2-2.5 kg. Wings often develop. The grapes are tightly packed in the clusters and covered with a whitish bloom.

The skin is dense but thin, dark purple. The contents inside are crisp, juicy, and sweet. Sugar content is average—18-19%, acidity—6 g/l. The skin is barely noticeable when eating, and does not separate from the flesh.

The taste is pleasant and harmonious, with pronounced citrus notes. Tasters gave it an 8.5. The flavor of this grape, like other varieties, depends on growing conditions, care, and the amount of sunshine.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Hadji Murat is prized for its large berries and excellent flavor. Its advantages include:

• mid-season;
• good shoot maturation;
• high commercial properties;
• absence of peas;
• large weight of brushes;
• stable yield.

Wasps are not a threat to grapes, making plant care much easier. The berries can withstand long transport without losing their appearance or flavor. Under the right conditions in a basement or cellar, they remain fresh for up to 3-4 months.

But when growing, many nuances must be taken into account: the quality of the soil, the mandatory standardization of the bushes.

Cons:

• average disease resistance;
• Mandatory winter cover is required (even in the middle zone);
• tendency to overload.

Berry cracking is common in clusters, so irrigation is regulated and the vines are monitored during ripening. During ripening, birds make devastating flights into the Hadji Murat vineyards. For protection, they use fencing nets, covering materials, and swatters.

Selecting a site and landing

Hadji Murat is demanding of soil, preferring sandy and sandy loam soils. The site should be well-lit, but avoid drafts and winds. For spring plantings, prepare the soil in early April by adding organic matter and ash.

Nutrient mixture for planting holes:

• humus (two buckets);
• ash (1 kg);
• superphosphate (400-500 grams).

You can use complex fertilizers. Dig holes at least two meters apart. At the same time, install supports for the trellis. The variety takes root quickly, and the seedlings adapt well and begin to grow.

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Agricultural technology

Standard care includes:

• watering;
• application of fertilizers (starting from the third year of crop cultivation);
• bush formation;
• pruning.

The list of mandatory works includes preventative spraying against diseases and pests, covering the grape vines before wintering.

Work in spring

After the snow melts and the weather warms, the vines are uncovered and the shoots are secured to the trellis. The vines are sprayed with solutions of Bordeaux mixture and potassium permanganate to control pests. Treating the vineyard with DNOC is also effective. The Hadji Murat shoots are pruned at the root zone, and excess buds are trimmed.

In May, apply fertilizer (for mature bushes) using mullein diluted in water, ash infusion, and complex fertilizers. After the bushes begin to bloom, remove excess buds, regulating the load on the plant.

Summer care for grapes

The grape vine of this variety is characterized by rapid growth, so in the summer the bushes are regularly pinched and side shoots are cut off.

Top dressing:

• before flowering and during the period of ovary formation (diluted mullein, ash);
• spraying the leaves with the preparation Zavyaz, solutions of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers;
• Adding superphosphate and potassium supplements in August to improve the taste of grapes and increase the weight of bunches and berries.

The variety responds well to foliar feeding:

• before flowering, use a composition of boric acid (5 g), potassium sulfate (50 g), superphosphate (80 g), urea (40 g), all diluted in a bucket of water;
• after flowering, use solutions with any microelements;
• During the ripening period of berries, only natural products are used (whey, wood ash).

Water as needed; this variety is demanding in terms of moisture but does not tolerate overwatering. Beginning around midsummer, gradually trim away excess leaves that block sunlight from reaching the grape clusters. During rainy summers, loosen the soil around the vines and apply mulch. Straw, hay, and compost are suitable as a mulch layer.

In July, mandatory treatments are carried out against fungal infections to which the variety is prone. The following preparations are used:

• Quadris;
• Flint Star.

After spraying, it's recommended to fertilize the vineyard with Plantafol or Aquarin. If signs of disease appear, treat the plants with colloidal sulfur or potassium permanganate (5-6 grams per bucket of water). In the early stages of the disease, applying wood ash to the foliage (a kilogram of ash per bucket of water) is effective.

In August, Hadji Murat vines are pruned, removing tops and leaves (6-8 per shoot). Pruning is essential on mature vines, as this will better prepare the grapes for the long winter. Fruiting vines are pruned to 8-10 buds.

Autumn works

In early September, the Hadji Murat grapes begin to ripen. After the berries are harvested, the bushes are fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. Applying nitrogen at this time is not recommended; these fertilizers will be needed in the spring.

In the fall, cuttings are taken for rooting and immature vines are pruned. To protect against pests, treating the vineyard with a 3% copper sulfate solution is recommended. Experienced gardeners have observed that vines treated with this solution are less susceptible to rodent attacks.

As cold weather approaches, the vines are bent down and covered with spruce branches and other special materials. During dry autumns, watering is performed to replenish moisture for the vines' winter survival.

Disease prevention and pest control

The high-yielding Hadji Murat grape variety is susceptible to mildew and oidium. Preventive measures require special attention, and all of them are described in the seasonal maintenance sections.

What to do once diseases have already manifested? Treat the bushes every 8-10 days, alternating treatments:

• Thanos, Strobe;
• Any copper-containing drugs;
• Profit Gold, Ordan.

A month before harvesting the berries, chemical treatments are stopped; only safe folk remedies are used.

After harvesting the berries, treatment with Thanos or Ordan is recommended.

Systemic fungicides such as Strobi, Thanos, and Ordan are effective against all types of fungal infections on grapes. Phylloxera is virtually impossible to eradicate, so only proper agricultural practices and the cultivation of grafted crops can help.

The fruitful Hadji Murat is prized for its large fruits and consistent yield. While it takes some effort to produce delicious berries, with proper care, the plant will reward gardeners handsomely.

Reviews

Nikolay, Stavropol

Hadji Murat is the largest variety in my vineyard. The berries are almost black, beautiful, and everyone loves the taste. They don't produce pea-sized berries, producing dense clusters, and they don't like being overwatered. The berries often burst, so watering must be regulated, but drought must be avoided. All my neighbors are amazed at the size of the berries.

Sergey, Tolyatti

The Hadji Murat grape has been growing for a long time, and it's quite a finicky variety. However, the size of the berries outweighs this. It's a bit low in sugar, but in our climate, it produces a decent flavor. Children eat it by the kilo and never tire of it. It ripens here in the second ten days of September, with impressively large bunches. It's demanding in terms of cultivation; everything must be selected according to the situation. However, many Asian varieties behave this way in our regions. It has average rooting, so it requires care, attention, and care.